T8N Jan/Feb 2020

JAN/FEB 2020 I t8nmagazine.com

d e r o n M

TAPAS, ANYONE? Bodega brings Iberian fare to St. Albert

atrimony * M

MABEL GARCIA

A Filipino focus on love

ICELAND

Why it’s a popular wedding destination

TASTY TREATS to ward off winter

*

What the next-gen set really thinks about marriage

2 T8Nmagazine.com

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Contents

T8N MAGAZINE

VOLUME 7 ISSUE 1 Jan/Feb 2020 PUBLISHER

EDITOR

Rob Lightfoot

Gene Kosowan

ART DIRECTION

Brenda Lakeman, Correna Saunders DESIGN & PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT

Correna Saunders PHOTOGRAPHY

Brenda Lakeman CONTRIBUTORS

Rudy Howell, Paula E. Kirman, Markwell Lyon, Shima Zonneveld OFFICE MANAGER

Janice Lightfoot CONTRIBUTING AGENCIES Image page 6 © sharshonm/Adobe Stock Image page 8 © EpicStockMedia/Adobe Stock Image page 14 © Mykola /Adobe Stock Image page 28 © Toltemara/Adobe Stock

ISSN 2368-707X (PRINT) ISSN 2368-7088 (ONLINE)

For editorial inquiries or information, contact T8N magazine at info@t8nmagazine.com. Have something to say? Letters, suggestions or ideas can be sent to letters@t8nmagazine.com.

Conversations 6

Marriage Millennial Style What young adults really thinks about the state of matrimony.

Arts & Culture 9

City 21

MEET YOU THERE An Iberian Experience

How two restaurateurs brought tapas to St. Albert.

24

Art & the Altar

THEN & NOW

A Mission Monument Tracing the roots of venerable Juneau House.

Mabel Garcia’s creative perspective on weddings.

Living

Spotlight

14

26

THE 8s

Gifting for a New Generation

Registry options are more modern and unusual than ever.

16

FOOD & GATHERINGS Take That Chill Off Nifty treats to keep that nasty cold away.

The Intrepid Land of Iceland

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION Rob Lightfoot rob@t8nmagazine.com 780 940 6212 or visit t8nmagazine.com T8N magazine is published 6 times a year by T8N Publishing Inc. Copyright ©2020 T8N Publishing Inc. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited.

Content marked by the Sponsored Content icon was produced in partnership between content producers and T8N magazine.

PRINTED IN CANADA

T8N PUBLISHING INC PUBLISHER & PRESIDENT

Rob Lightfoot: rob@t8nmagazine.com

A tiny landform is getting gigantic attention.

28

Down Time

Find the words that might pop up next time you're at a wedding.

CONNECT WITH US

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2 T8Nmagazine.com

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T8N January/February 2020 3

I FROM THE PUBLISHER I HAPPY NEW YEAR, everyone, and with that we

hope you are all enjoying a good start to 2020.

It’s a time to start anew, and probably an unusual way to draw attention to this issue’s theme surrounding marriage. But when you think about it, a chorus of Auld Lang Syne isn’t much different from vows exchanged at the altar. Both symbolize beginnings for all involved.

At a period when change is rampant, even the institution of marriage has morphed with the times. We thought it Rob Lightfoot would be interesting to find out what matrimony means to millennials, a generation pegged as being determined to uproot the social status quo and replace it with an entirely new and more inclusive set of values. Their perspectives on the topic might surprise you on page 6.

Contingent with the theme, we also look at the state of wedding registries (page 16), explore Iceland as a marital destination (page 26) and even chat with artist Mabel Garcia whose specialty is creating unique pieces of wedding art (page 9).

We also look at the old and the new in St. Albert by examining Juneau House, recognized as the city’s longest-standing residence (page 24), and introducing readers to Bodega, a new restaurant that delivers the virtues of tapas (page 21). But if staying indoors as a barrier against our cold climate is more your speed, we’ve got some homemade goodies worth checking out (page 16).

Hopefully, this will help get your new year off right. All the best in 2020!

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On the Cover Even though the temperature is dipping well into the negatives, there’s plenty of warmth to go around via the miracles of food and drink. For a look at what to prep to battle the elements, check out page 16. Credit for this beautiful image goes to our photographer Brenda Lakeman with special thanks to our lovely model Nikki Bosch.

SALES PROFESSIONAL NEEDED

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I CONVERSATIONS I

Marriage Millennial Style

While most young adults aren’t big on matrimony, the rest of their peers take it very seriously

BY GENE KOSOWAN 6 T8Nmagazine.com 6 T8Nmagazine.com

WHEN MAE ANDERSON decided

to get married, she knew she’d get pushback from part of her devoutly Catholic family. She’d already been with her boyfriend for a few years and once the two fell into a bit of money, they put a down payment on a home in St. A lbert when she was only 23. With both partners gainfully employed a nd feeli ng sec u re enough to tie the knot, they knew that what they had in mind for a wedding wasn’t exactly going to be enthusiastically received.

“My mother and grandmother expected I’d get married in a church, but we don’t conform to any kind of religious view,” recalled Anderson, a television producer at francophone network Radio-Canada.

“We weren’t rebellious enough to not get married at all, yet we wanted to please both sides.”

Not wanting a traditional ceremony, the couple came up with a compromise.

Instead of a priest, they enlisted the services of a Justice of the Peace. And rather than host a formal multi-course reception, they made arrangements for a more cocktail-oriented affair with finger food. Once they were married, it was mission accomplished: they managed to ditch the dogma of a religious ritual, yet unite family and loved ones to celebrate the occasion.

“The reason we got married was to enable everybody to get together for the first time in decades,” added Anderson. “We had family come in from everywhere, even from Australia and England.”

A Skeptical Demographic No doubt it was a joyous occasion for Anderson, 26, and her new husband.

Both are millennials, a skeptical demographic equally praised and criticized for challenging the wisdom of the once-dominant boomer generation.

Comprised of people born between 1981 and 1996, it’s an age group with an entirely different set of social values that

favour such platitudes as inclusivity over elitism and environmental friendliness over industrial progress.

As for the institution of marriage, it’s not exactly a topic that thrills most Canadian millennials. Recent results from pollsters Angus Reid reveal that roughly one in three young adults have no plans to tie the knot. While Statistics Canada found that roughly 40 percent of young adults were living in common-law relationships, almost twice the number assessed in

CANADIAN MILLENNIALS AND MARRIAGE BY THE NUMBERS 1.5: number, in millions, of Canadian millennials who are married as of 2018 28: average age of a woman when she marries 31: average age of a man when he marries 37: percentage of millennials who don’t want to get married 47: percentage of millennials who believe marriage is absolutely essential 61: percentage of millennials who would marry if they could afford it 62: percentage of millennials who have never married 85: percentage of millennials who would marry outside their race 8,937: average, in dollars spent on a wedding in 2017 44,093: median income, in dollars, of millennials as of 2016 Sources: Statistics Canada, Angus Reid, Ipsos 1981, few of them expressed a willingness to marry. Whether by choice or by fate, the remaining 60 percent of respondents are still single.

Marriage As Status Symbol But for the rest of the pack, that’s where the cynicism ends. It turns out millennials who do marry approach that next step in their relationships earnestly, especially if they’ve already been cohabiting for a while, a lifestyle for less than half of young Canadians who plan on getting hitched. While doing it out of love remains high on the checklist, so do other concerns, especially income.

“I find they take the wedding process very seriously for the simple fact that the relationship has built up over time now that they’re living together,” said Nicola Baird-Latham, who, as a stay-athome employee of a St. Albert-based travel agency, specializes in destination

weddings. “They see the benefit of getting married, but they’re now more money-conscious, because they have bills and a mortgage.”

A 2014 study by Hamilton-based think tank Cardis underscored that distinct link between marriage and economic class. Their findings revealed that 86 percent of affluent couples were married, compared to 49 percent in the middle class and 12 percent in the lower class. Interestingly, the research paper discovered that demographics had no influence in the findings. Marriage statistics among well-off millennials and boomers were roughly the same.

The results indicated that partners who don’t marry mostly stay together more out of necessity than anything else. On the other hand, married couples enjoy a higher social status, are more successful financially and much happier.

T8N January/February 2020 7

Lower Divorce Rates That’s encouraging for matrimonyminded young adults increasingly aware of divorce rates among boomers. While the divorce rates among Canadian millennials are sketchy at best, Statistics Canada discovered that the mean age for splits was 44 for men and 41 for women.

A more concise U.S. survey according to Bloomberg assessed the millennial divorce rate was slightly more than 10 percent, with boomer breakups skyrocketing to nearly 30 percent, more than triple the rates recorded in 1980.

Besides cohabiting, marriage-minded millennials tend to wait longer before taking the plunge, usually around the time they hit their 30s. It’s a far cry from 1972 when the average age of Canadian grooms was around 25, with brides being roughly two years younger.

A recent survey from Brigham Young University’s School of Family Life revealed that the vast majority of respondents believed that those who married later signified greater maturity and greater determination to make the relationship work. Other advantages to delaying the nuptials included ensuring personal goals were achieved first, buying more time to secure themselves financially and taking the time to assess the qualities of a potential spouse.

“I think millennials are waiting because women have more choice than ever before,” said psychologist Jennifer B. Rhoads in a study conducted by U.S. relationship researchers The Gottman Institute. “This shift in the view of marriage as now a luxury rather than a necessity has prompted women to be more selective in choosing a partner.”

True Equality A millennial’s decision to marry might sound more strategic than romantic, but taking the time to decide on a partner’s marital eligibility once a person’s own goals are solidified seems to be working.

That both partners are breadwinners is 8 T8Nmagazine.com

a bonus, implying true equality. That’s often reflected in millennial weddings these days, with the male partner getting equally involved in the process, which almost used to be the bride-to-be’s exclusive domain. And with millennials being more budget-conscious, $30,000 extravaganzas aren't as common, with the average gathering more likely to cost less than $10,000.

Then there are the more nuanced stipulations that tend to reinforce the stigma of millennial values. There’s no shortage of anecdotes involving couples insisting that all materials that go into the affair are environmentally friendly.

Many opt for gender-neutral references, preferring to be addressed as spouses

instead of husband and wife. And others with family and friends from other ethnicities take great pains to ensure that everything to do with the wedding doesn’t offend them on cultural grounds.

Anderson, who had no qualms about having her wedding stay secular, said her motives to head to the altar were both pragmatic and romantic. But before taking that next step, she and her partner made sure all the bases were covered.

“I had been with him for about seven years, and in my mind, I was certain that this was the man with whom I wanted to spend the rest of my life,” she said.

“We had both hit a point in our emotional maturity and our careers that we felt we were ready.” t8n

ART Altar

I ARTS & CULTURE I

and the

Mabel Garcia gravitates from Post-It notes to professional artist

BY PAULA E. KIRMAN; PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRENDA LAKEMAN

T8N T8N January/February January/February 2020 2020 99

IN JUST OVER a decade, Mabel Garcia

has gone from doodling on Post-It notes to having her own art business creating custom portraits, particularly specializing in weddings.

Weddings have been an inspiration to Garcia since the beginning. “The first doodle I made on a Post-It was a scene from my sister’s wedding,” says Garcia, who moved with her family to Edmonton from the Philippines in 2008. “That was the last big family event we had right before we moved to Canada.”

That doodle turned out to be an extra-special memento. When the Garcia family applied to migrate to Canada, that sister was over the age limit to apply to come with the rest of the family. However, deciding that coming to Canada would be a positive change in their lives, they were willing to take the risk of separating the family by geography.

“We remained hopeful that even though we are facing quite a lot of unknowns, we will all be together again,” she says.

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Garcia now runs I Love the Moon, her custom illustration business, and credits her art for helping with integrating into life in Canada. “I wasn’t really sure how to connect and make new friends when we moved here. I just turned 25 and really didn’t know anyone outside of my family and work,” she explains. “I started using social media to share my work and was able to connect with a lot of women, creatives, and entrepreneurs in the city.

The support I’ve received from the community has been overwhelming.”

T8N January/February 2020 11

Her art has also helped Garcia stay connected with her friends and family who are far away, including her sister back in the Philippines, now a mother of two daughters. Again using the medium of Post-It notes, Garcia would doodle mini-portraits of her loved ones during her breaks at work, and send the illustrations to them digitally.

Those illustrations started showing up on social media as profile pictures, and friends of friends started asking about getting their portraits made. “I guess it was a way of me trying to cope with a big change in my life; making portraits made me feel like they were close by,” says Garcia.

In addition to weddings, Garcia also creates other kinds of custom portraits like families, pets, couples, and individuals. The majority of Garcia's clients are women.

“If they are not getting a portrait for themselves, they are getting it for someone else because they are their best friend, sister, mother, grandmother. They are always someone’s special person in their lives.”

12 T8Nmagazine.com

Garcia describes as artistic process as “intimate.”

She uses reference photos to create the portraits, but asks clients for a lot of details to help her make the end result deeply personal. “I also ask what the mom’s favourite necklace is, or the kids’ favourite toy. If they want their furry friends included, would they like to include their dog tag/collar in the portrait?

I get to know the couples and families that I illustrate, which makes it even more special to me.”

Art is still a part-time endeavour for Garcia, who works full-time as an administrative supervisor at a university and creates her custom portraits on weeknights and weekends. Her goal is to be able to go full-time as an artist.

In the meantime, Garcia will continue to celebrate love with her work. “Each custom portrait that I make is a celebration of love.

This is what weddings are all about!” t8n

T8N January/February 2020 13

I THE EIGHTS I

Gifting for a

new generation Wedding registries today are not like endowment lists from yesteryear

BY MARKWELL LYON

WE’VE COME A long way since the first wedding registry services

appeared in US department stores in the 1920s. Although tradition is still central to many weddings, technology and changing tastes and demographics are rapidly altering the gift-giving protocol that follows.

Increasingly, couples are getting creative and redefining what makes the perfect wedding gift.

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Going Digital One obvious trend is that engaged couples are increasingly logging on to manage their gift lists. Many store-based services have moved online, including Canadian stores like the Bay or William Ashley. Universal registry websites, like Blueprint Registry, offer customizable services covering weddings and other major life occasions. Either way, the purpose of these sites hasn’t changed: providing couples with a convenient and efficient way to make their preferences known, while hopefully avoiding the bad luck of receiving more than one toaster.

The Millennial Experience Millennials are waiting longer than other generations to tie the knot. By the time they do, there’s a good chance they’re already living together and have all the dinnerware and bedsheets that they need (or want). Enter the experience gift. While saucepans have long been a popular registry go-to, today’s couples might prefer cooking lessons or a wine tour. Research shows that experience gifts can spark joy long after products lose their shine—obviating the need for the newlyweds to Marie Kondo their homes later on.

The Gift of Travel As experience gifts become more common, specialized honeymoon or travel registries have found a niche. These date back to the 1990s, when travel agents began offering the service as an extra. Nowadays, honeymoon registries are likely to be web-based, giving couples a handy way to publicize and finance travel plans through crowdfunded donations. Popular websites like Honeyfund and Zola are customizable and help couples plan, book and pay for their dream vacations and other experiences.

range of causes, from the environment to community development to social justice. Plan Canada’s Gifts of Hope is one example of a homegrown charity registry that helps people in developing countries.

Money Talks Not long ago, giving money as a wedding gift would have been a faux-pas. Times sure have changed. It’s become much more acceptable for couples to ask guests for cash instead of a potentially hit-ormiss gift. There’s certainly some logic to it—couples know best what they need and don’t need, after all. Cold hard cash can also be used to pay for desired services, such as fertilization treatments or home renovation projects.

Practically Speaking Asking straight up for money might still feel awkward to some, but a related trend is to ask for help with practical matters. Just as young couples are putting off getting married, they’re often also waiting longer to buy a house.

That’s why some couples are asking for help covering down payments, bills and other everyday expenses. Rising house costs, combined with student loans and other debt, might make these gifts the most sensible for many cash-strapped newlyweds.

Gearing up As people lead more active lives, specialized gear for indoor and outdoor activities is increasingly showing up on registry lists. Whether those include an inflatable two-person kayak for

the Perfect Couple to indulge in some leisurely paddling or a set of mountain bikes to hit the rugged terrain out of town, there’s no shortage of registries— From Cabela’s to Mountain Equipment Co-op— offering impromptu gift lists for that active twosome.

Art for Art’s Sake Registries are also evolving to include the sort of artwork and artisanal goods that can enliven and personalize a new home. Some art galleries in the Capital Region offer registry services, which may be used to fund a single piece of art or several works. Similarly, artisanal products have become a popular wedding gift idea. Etsy, an online marketplace where people sell handmade goods, lets customer create wedding registries on its site. t8n

Charitable Donations For the couple that already has everything, charity is a feel-good alternative to the wedding gift. Borrowing from the popularity of crowdfunding, charity registries ask guests to donate to a preferred charity in lieu of presents.

There’s even a customizable element to this, as charity registries cover a dizzying T8N January/February 2020 15

I FOOD & GATHERINGS I

TAKE THAT

Chill Off

Craving something warm and comforting?

Look no further than these unique winter party snacks!

RECIPES & STYLING BY SHIMA ZONNEVELD; PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRENDA LAKEMAN

IT’S COLD AND dark this

time of year, but with that comes an opportunity for cozy gatherings. Have a few friends in, host a cocktail pa rty a nd light the fi re!

These recipes are great for a party, an afternoon bridal shower or an impromptu get together.

16 T8Nmagazine.com

Just Peachy Greet your guests with a house cocktail once they step through the front door.

They will appreciate sipping on this not too sweet beverage while they make themselves at home and start to peruse all the yummy appetizers that await!

2 oz. gin, preferably a more aromatic, floral gin 1 oz. peach schnapps 5 oz. peach nectar

Roasted Shallot Dip A beautiful crudités platter or a bowl of tortilla chips can be elevated by adding a homemade dip such as this one which involves roasting whole shallots slowly in the oven.

4 large, unpeeled shallots, roasted and minced

a splash of cherry syrup

Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Give it a shake and pour into your favourite cocktail glass. Garnish with lemon peel for a fancy finish!

½ tsp. kosher salt ¼ tsp. pepper ½ c. sour cream (Greek yogurt is a great substitution) ½ c. mayonnaise or Miracle Whip

Preheat oven to 425º. Wash and dry the shallots, leaving the skin on. Place them on a baking sheet and roast for 35-40 minutes, turning them halfway through the cooking time.

Let the shallots cool and then peel them. Mince the shallots and set aside. Mix together the salt, pepper, sour cream and mayonnaise.

Add in the shallots, stir and serve alongside raw veggies, tortilla chips or use as a sandwich spread.

T8N January/February 2020 17

Crunchy Chick Peas This salty, crunchy snack is not only delicious, but healthy too! This recipe can be used as a party snack but use up any leftovers as a yummy salad topper to add a bit of extra protein to any salad.

1 19-oz. can of chickpeas, rinsed and drained 1 tbsp. good olive oil big pinch of kosher salt*

Preheat the oven to 375ºF, line a baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper.

Take the rinsed and drained chickpeas and place them in between two clean and dry dish towels. Pat dry the chickpeas and roll them underneath the palms of your hand to remove as many chickpea skins as possible (less skin equals crispier chickpeas). Pick out any remaining skins and transfer the chickpeas to the prepared baking pan.

Bake the chickpeas for 20 minutes and then remove the pan from the oven. Drizzle the olive oil and sprinkle the salt over the chickpeas and toss to coat. Bake for another 20-25 minutes until the chickpeas are darker in colour and crunchy. *Feel free to add another pinch of salt when the chickpeas come out of the oven and are still hot or a dash of a favourite spice!

Gouda and Walnut Cheese Straws Cheese, walnuts and a hint of heat from cayenne make a tasty, easy to snack on appetizer. This dough recipe is very versatile, experiment with your favourite cheese and spice to create a unique taste each time. This recipe makes 27 straws.

3 tbsp. room temperature butter ⅛ tsp. cayenne pepper ¼ tsp. black pepper ½ tsp. kosher salt ¾ c. flour ¼ c. chopped walnuts 3 ½ oz. grated medium Gouda 4 tbsp. cold water 18 T8Nmagazine.com

Into the bowl of a food processor, add in the first seven ingredients and pulse to combine.

Slowly add the water until the dough comes together into a ball.

Form the dough into a rectangle and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for no less than one hour and up to four days.

Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

Generously flour your work surface and roll out the dough into a (14 x10-inch) rectangle, keeping it about an eighth of an inch thick. Using either a knife or a pastry cutter, trim the ragged edges off. Cut the dough into strips that are 10 inches long by a half-inch wide.

Place the strips on the prepared baking pan, twist the ends in the opposite direction for a spiral cheese straw.

Sprinkle with poppy seeds or flaky sea salt and bake for 8-10 minutes until the straws are brown and crispy.

Cool completely and serve.

These straws will keep in an airtight container for a week.

Chorizo Mini Pies These tangy little hand pies are a great appetizer served alongside a quick dip made with ketchup, sriracha and chopped fresh cilantro!

1 package of store bought pie dough (Feel free to use homemade) 2 tbsp. butter 1 medium russet potato, peeled and cut into ¼” cubes 1 tbsp. olive oil ¼ c. diced yellow onion 1 lb. fresh chorizo sausage, casings removed ½ tsp. kosher salt ¼ tsp. ground cumin a pinch of red pepper flakes 1 large egg, beaten 4 tbsp. grated manchego or Monterey Jack cheese 2 tbsp. fresh cilantro, chopped and divided

Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

Preheat the oven to 425ºF while cooking the chorizo.

In a medium sauce pan, heat butter over medium-high heat. Add in the cubed potatoes in a single layer in the pan.

Cook, without stirring for about 6 minutes until golden brown on one side. Carefully turn the potatoes and cook for 5-6 minutes on the other side. Transfer potatoes to a paper towel lined plate, cool and set aside.

Using the same skillet, reduce the heat to medium and add in the olive oil and onion. Cook until translucent, 3-5 minutes.

Add in the chorizo, salt, cumin and red pepper flakes. Cook, stirring and breaking up the meat throughout, until the chorizo is brown, approximately 6-10 minutes. On a paper towel-lined plate, spoon out the chorizo and drain and cool.

On a floured surface, roll out the dough to a ⅛-inch thickness. Using a 2½-inch round cookie cutter, cut out tops and bottoms for mini pies and lay them out on the parchment lined sheets.

Assembly line steps: Brush the edges of the pie bottoms with beaten egg. In the centre, dollop ½ tablespoon of the chorizo mixture, 3-4 potato cubes and a sprinkle of cheese. Pop the top on and using a fork, crimp the edges to seal the pie. Cut an “X” on the top of each pie to allow for steam to escape. Repeat for the remainder of pies.

Finish by brushing the top with egg wash (beaten egg) and bake until golden brown, about 12-17 minutes.

T8N January/February 2020 19

Halva Studded Brownie Pops Halva is a sweet confection originating in the Middle East.

The base flavour can vary between a sunflower seed paste or a tahini (sesame seed). It can be bought with different types of nuts, dried fruit or chocolate. For this recipe, plain tahini halva was used.

1 c. all purpose flour ½ tsp. kosher salt 6 oz. dark chocolate, chopped 1 oz. unsweetened chocolate, chopped ¼ c. cocoa ¾ c. unsalted, cubed butter 1 c. dark brown sugar ½ c. white sugar 2 tsp. vanilla extract 4 room temperature eggs ½ c. chopped halva (half-inch cubes)

You will also need 24 lollipop sticks and a small circular cookie cutter.

Preheat the oven to 350ºF and line and spray a 9 x 9-inch pan with parchment paper and cooking spray.

In a bowl, whisk together the flour, and the salt, set aside.

In a heat-proof glass bowl, add in the dark chocolate and the unsweetened chocolate. Place the glass bowl over a gently simmering pot of water, ensuring the water is not touching the bottom of the bowl. Stirring occasionally, melt the two chocolate types together and remove from heat and place on a dry dish towel.

Whisk the two types of sugar and vanilla into the melted chocolate. Let this mixture cool so when the eggs are added they aren’t cooked!

Whisk in the eggs, one at a time. Make sure the eggs are fully incorporated into this mixture. Add in the flour mixture and switch to a wooden spoon and fold the flour mixture in. Finally, fold in the chopped halva.

Pour the brownie batter into the prepared pan and bake for 20-25 minutes, this will yield a fudgy brownie. Cool the brownies in the pan for 20 minutes and then remove them from the pan using the parchment sleeve. Place on a cooling rack and cool completely, overnight is fine.

Using the circular cookie cutter, cut out the brownie pops, at this stage they can be popped into the freezer. Otherwise, put the lollipop stick into the centre of the brownie and repeat with the rest of the brownie pops. This is a delicious, rich treat to cap off any party! t8n 20 T8Nmagazine.com

I MEET YOU THERE I

An Iberian EXPERIENCE Two restaurateurs bring the flavours of Spain and Portugal to St. Albert

PICTURE THIS. YOU’RE in

your early 20s, you’re with your best friend, and you’re travelling the coast of Spain and Portugal by motorcycle.

Captivated by all the scenery, food, and wine that the Iberian Peninsula had to offer, one of you says to the other, “We should open up a European-style restaurant in Edmonton.”

BY RUDY HOWELL

T8N January/February 2020 21

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This was the case for Christian Mena and Lino Oliveira. “It was probably more of a joke than anything, but I would imagine that at some point that was the catalyst for the idea of opening a restaurant at all,” explains Mena, co-owner of Bodega Tapas and Wine Bar by SABOR.

through work as busboys and dishwashers at such Edmonton fine-dining Establishments as Victor’s and La Boheme, the storied French restaurant where Wayne Gretzky and friends from the Edmonton Oilers’ glory days would dine privately in the wine cellar.

That catalyst spawned SABOR, which opened in 2008 in Edmonton. A few years later, the duo opened Bodega with a focus on Spanish and Portuguese tapas— appetizer-sized menu items meant to be served with wine or cocktails. The entrepreneurs have since opened three Bodega locations in the city before hanging yet another shingle in October in St. Albert where they continue to promise traditional Spanish tapas, well paired wines, and friendly service, all coated in an ambiance you would expect to find within a bustling Barcelona or Madrid eatery. “Tapas is more about the culture than it is the food,” says Bodega co-owner Oliveira.

Following their individual passions in the 1990s, the two friends went their separate ways. Mena enjoyed nationwide success as the lead singer of Latin-funk band Maracujah and starred alongside Neil Patrick Harris in the US touring production of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Rent. Meanwhile, Oliveira moved back to Portugal, where for nearly 15 years he ran several different restaurants on the country’s north coast near its border with Spain.

Bodega’s recent expansion to St. Albert has been a strategic effort by Mena and Oliveira to serve one of the largest customer bases to frequent their SABOR’s venue. Over the years, the pair have been told by countless clientele that they should bring their business further north of the Alberta capital. Much of the reasoning had to do with driving to downtown Edmonton, especially during this region’s more severe winter regions that can hamper travelling to a favourite eatery.

Bodega’s St. Albert location takes that obstacle out of the equation, giving residents more choices within its civic borders. “Aside from providing great food, great drinks, and great atmosphere, our type of restaurant is also an escape in the sense that culturally you don’t feel like you’re in Edmonton,” says Mena.

Best friends since elementary school, Mena and Oliveira both came to Canada with their families in the 1970s—Mena from Chile and Oliveira from Portugal.

As teenagers in the 1980s, the two were introduced to the restaurant industry

But eventually, “life happens,” says Mena, who left the spotlight nearly 20 years ago to raise his family back in Edmonton. It wasn’t long before he was trying to get Oliveira to follow his lead with the promise of opening that restaurant they had joked about as young men.

To the pair, now well financially and culinarily positioned, the idea seemed

like less of a joke than ever before. So, in 2007, Oliveira returned to Edmonton, and one year later, the duo opened SABOR. At the time, St. Albert wasn’t even on the radar, as the twosome focused on traditional Iberian flavours such as fish and seafood, with tapas being added to the SABOR menu in 2014. An immediate success, and inspired by the idea of people trying out food without the formality of multiple-course dining, Mena and Oliveira seized the opportunity and opened the first Bodega right next door to SABOR that same year.

“Bodega was a nice way to entice people to come and try us without having to commit to a reservation and a big meal,” Oliveira explains. At Bodega, a customer can try a variety of small-scale servings of the same dishes served at SABOR for a fraction of the price.

As for the future, Mena and Oliveira plan to stay busy regardless of where their restaurants are located. “The plan is always there,” Oliveira says. “Stay significant, keep occupied, and keep our name relevant.” t8n

Bodega Tapas co-owner Christian Mena

Bodega Tapas and Wine Bar

by SABOR at a glance: Location: 1 Hebert Road #101, St. Albert Specialty: Wine, cocktails, cultural atmosphere Unique Tapas Items: lamb and chicken lollipops, cured striploin, pork belly with kimchi, piri piri prawns, grilled octopus When To Dine: The venue opens daily at 3 p.m.

Fun Fact: Weekends are the best opportunity for customers to chat with owners Mena and Oliveira

T8N January/February 2020 23

I THEN & NOW I

St. Albert 1930, Musée Héritage Museum

Michif Cultural Connections Opening September 30, 2016, Musée Héritage Museum

A Mission Avenue

MONUMENT Juneau House stands as a timeless local attraction

BY RUDY HOWELL

AT THE CORE of every city is a structure which remains

firmly rooted as the community grows around it. London has Westminster Abbey, Paris has Notre-Dame, and St. Albert has Juneau House. While not as famous or grandiose as its European counterparts, Juneau House, located at 9 Mission Avenue—the city’s oldest residential road— is surely important to the history and development of St. Albert.

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Late 1800s Completed in 1890, Juneau House stands proudly as St. Albert’s oldest residence. Its construction was associated with the original town planning and surveying undertaken by the Roman Catholic Diocese when the area’s farmland was first subdivided into river lots for the establishment of the community. The house is named after its first owners—brothers Edmund and Frank Juneau. Originally from Quebec, they came to St. Albert from Kamloops, B.C., in the mid-1870s. Edmund married a Blackfoot woman from Montana named Marie Beauchemin and worked as a farmer and schoolboard trustee.

Frank was a carpenter by trade, as well as a trader who frequently traveled to spots like Lac La Biche, Athabasca Landing and Victoria Settlement. At the turn of the century, Frank was unanimously elected by all voting members of the community to the position of “Village Overseer,” which he served as until his death in 1902.

1900s–1930s The same year Frank Juneau died; Dr. J. Arthur Giroux, the home’s most storied owner, moved from Quebec to St. Albert where he swiftly became the town’s first community health officer. In 1903, Giroux married a Quebecois nurse named Alice Morin and that same year the newlyweds moved into Juneau House where they would convert the front room into the base for their medical practice. With patients also in Villeneuve, Riviere Qui Barre, Morinville, and Namao, Giroux would often make house calls via horseback or dogsled.

In 1913, Giroux was elected as St. Albert’s sixth mayor, succeeding Leon Levasseur, which he served as until 1918. When Giroux and Morin weren’t governing the town, or aiding the ill, they were instrumental in organizing local entertainment. Giroux, a violinist, and Morin, a pianist, strung together a community band, which performed concerts and held dances at local functions. At Juneau House, they would host musicals, plays, as well as piano lessons which Morin instructed. Unfortunately, it was not long before cheers turned into tears.

Giroux died suddenly in his home in

1938. While accounts of his death vary, some believe that he took his own life. Future owners and visitors of the home have reported strange sensations, sounds, and smells—most frequently in a small bedroom upstairs which overlooks Mission Avenue.

1950s–1990s In 1955, the home’s final residential owners moved in. While maybe not as prominent in the history and development of St. Albert as the Juneaus or the Girouxs, the Roberts did make several much-needed improvements to the house. Up until the 1950s, the home’s kitchen had been located outdoors.

Therefore, the Roberts figured it was time to construct one inside the home.

They also installed plumbing and added a porch to the west end of the house facing Mission Avenue. On the east end of the house, they attached a barn which they had acquired from up the hill as a makeshift addition. The Roberts enjoyed these luxuries until the 1990s when the city purchased the house from them, turning it into a brief home for Arts and Heritage.

2000s In 2004, the city reached out to the Honourable Senator Dr. Thelma J. Chalifoux, offering her the exclusive use of Juneau House for her constituency office which she happily accepted. As the first Métis woman appointed to the Senate of Canada, it was only fitting that Chalifoux would establish the Michif Cultural Institute (now Michif Cultural Connections) within Juneau House that

same year. One of few Métis cultural centres in Alberta, the organization aimed to preserve, protect, and celebrate Alberta’s rich Métis history, culture, and tradition. Chalifoux passed away in 2017 at the age of 88, but the organization, now directed by her daughter, Sharon Morin, proudly continues her legacy by offering programs, facilitating workshops, displaying artifacts, and providing access to a variety of library and archival items.

2010s–Today After the city discovered that the house was slowly sinking, it underwent a major, year-long restoration project in 2015. Still resting on its original wooden foundation, the first phase of the project consisted of redoing the basement and pouring a concrete foundation. This was followed by window repairs, a roof replacement, an accessible bathroom installation, and a full kitchen reconstruction which involved replacing the Roberts’ barn addition with a more modern one.

The veranda above the porch was rebuilt and a peach-coloured stucco siding was applied to the home’s exterior in order to match the original shade of the house. In addition, the property was landscaped, new sidewalks were added, and a wheelchair ramp was installed.

In a sense, “Juneau House has come full circle in the community,” says Michif Cultural Connections office manager, Joshua Morin. Not only has it been restored to its former physical glory, it is also bringing back the culture and tradition of the Métis people who first settled in St. Albert. t8n

T8N January/February 2020 25

I SPOTLIGHT I

The intrepid island of

ICELAND A brief guide to the land of fire and ice WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARKWELL LYON

FULL OF STARK, otherworldly landscapes and blessed with a rich cultural

heritage, Iceland has long gripped the imaginations of intrepid travellers.

But it’s only been in recent years that this island country has transformed itself from a sleepy backwater, where sheep outnumber humans, into a tourist hotspot. Even more recently, couples hoping to tie the know have started choosing Iceland as a choice destination for exchanging vows. With direct flights and layovers making it easier than ever to visit, here are a few highlights that make a trip to Iceland a unique experience.

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Explore the Big City

GETTING MARRIED IN ICELAND

The capital and largest city, metro Reykjavík is home to almost 230,000 people, or two-thirds of the nation’s population. It’s traditionally held to be the site of Iceland’s first Viking settlement over 1,100 years ago. The city’s compact and walkable centre, Old Reykjavik, contains museums, galleries and hip cafés, along with many of the city’s tourist sights. These include Tjörnin, a popular lake and birdwatching spot; Hallgrimskirkja, a Lutheran church with an iconic tower; and the trendy shopping-and-nightlife street, Laugavegur.

• A wedding in Iceland can make for a picturesque occasion, with a plethora of classic wooden churches available. Those yearning for an outdoor ceremony have a veritable landscape from black sand and glaciers to mountains and volcanoes as memorable backdrops.

• While Icelandic weddings embrace diversity involving ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation, there is a bunch of paperwork that needs to be submitted.

Those include birth certificates, passports and a wedding certificate that can easily be downloaded from the Registers Iceland website. All documentation must be sent at least three weeks before the wedding date.

• Depending on when a wedding take place, make sure to dress for the elements. Ice and snow are predominant, even as late as May and as early as September. Summers are hot and dry, much similar to Alberta.

Go Full Circle For layover travellers and daytrippers alike, the Golden Circle is a popular way to see Iceland in a short time. This 300 km tourist circuit is just east of the capital, and hits some of Iceland’s best known natural and historical attractions.

These include Geysir, the spouting hot spring that gave its name to all other spouting hot springs. Although it erupts infrequently now, nearby geyser Strokkur is much more reliable. It goes off every few minutes and can reach as high as 40 metres.

An alternative to the heavily visited Golden Circle is the Diamond Circle in the remote northeast. This route explores canyons, waterfalls and volcanic landscape around Lake Mývatn and the fishing village of Husavík.

Hit the Ring Road The best way to visit the sparsely populated regions outside of Reykjavik is by renting a car and taking Iceland’s Route 1. This 1,300 km highway rings the island and hits many of its regions, major towns and tourist attractions.

Though not long, you will find yourself stopping a lot: a week or more is recommended to do the full drive justice.

For those just wanting a day trip, the southern coastal town of Vík í Mýrdal (Vík for short) is an easy drive from the capital. Lying at the foot of the Mýrdal glacier and the active volcano Katla, rainy Vík is surrounded by lush, green mountains and famed for its beautiful black sand beach, Reynisfjara.

Take a Warm Dip

ICELAND TRAVEL INFO

Born of volcanic activity, modern Iceland is a geothermal superpower. In fact, geothermal energy supplies most of the nation’s heat and hot water and a quarter of its electricity. It also makes for some great bathing and swimming. Hot springs dot the countryside, the most famous being the Blue Lagoon, halfway between Reykjavík and the international airport. Swimming, meanwhile, is something of a national pastime.

Almost every town and village has a public pool, and most of them are heated by hot springs.

Arrival: Iceland’s main port of entry is Keflavík International Airport.

Canadians do not a visa for stays of up to 90 days.

Driving: A valid Canadian license is all you need. To rent a car, you have to be 21 or over and have held your license for over a year. Be warned that traffic circles are common, on roads outside the capital.

Electricity: Plugs resemble those in Europe, and the current is 220 volts.

Language: Icelandic is the official language, though many Icelanders are fluent in English, especially young people and those working in the travel industry.

Money: Iceland’s currency is the Icelandic króna. A rule of thumb is that 1000 ISK is roughly 10 CAD. Bring your Canadian bank card for backup: ATMs are plentiful and offer decent exchange rates.

Mind the Wildlife Iceland’s skies and waters are full of diverse and unique animals, making wildlife viewing very rewarding.

Harbours around the country offer boat tours that regularly encounter seals, dolphins and even whales. Whale watching tours with high success rates can be found in Reykjavik, the Snæfells peninsula in West Iceland, and Husavík and Akureyri in the north.

Iceland is also a birdwatchers’ paradise, with puffins perhaps the top draw.

Famous for their striking colours and hangdog faces, these birds can often be found in enormous colonies on steep ocean cliffs. Top spots for puffin viewing include the Westman Islands and Vík in South Iceland and Látrabjarg, Europe’s largest bird cliff, in the extreme northwest. t8n

T8N January/February 2020 27

I DOWN TIME I

Nuptial

NOUNS

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SOMETIMES, WORDS JUST can't describe the experience of a

wedding, which is why we're here to help you out with that.

Check out the list of words associated with those blessed unions at the bottom of this page and find them in the array just above them. So good luck as you head down this lexicon aisle!

Upload a photo of your completed word serarch to our Facebook page for a chance to win great prizes!

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